~Déjà vu ~

pt.3

Sammi is the first to speak.

"What do you mean, Chris was with you?"

She knew it; she knew Mike had not changed. From day one in the house this summer, Sammi said she didn't trust Mike.

Pauly just waits for Mike's response before he thinks or says anything.

Mike, "I pulled Chris to the side at Aztec."

Mike knows where this is headed so he corrects himself fast.

Mike puts his hands up, "Look, I didn't tell him anything. I was trying to diffuse the bomb."

Pauly, "So who told him, if you didn't?"

Sammi is on the edge waiting to hear this. Mike responds.

"The Unit."

Sam, "The Unit?"

Pauly is just as confused, "I thought you didn't even talk to him anymore? How the hell did he know?"

Mike explains, "I don't talk to him but he spotted me at Aztec. We said what's up and got to rappin' when I see Chris walk past. I'm about to say whaddup, when Unit asks me who he is and I tell 'im; That's Deena's boyfriend."

Mike continues.

"He then gets this look on his face and I'm like, what? He then tells me that he heard that you and Deena (he nods not needing to say it)... Anyway, I ask him how he heard and he said he overheard it when he was by the bathrooms."

Sammi instantly gets hot behind the ears. She didn't remember seeing him near them but then again, they weren't really looking. Who would think at that moment someone would hear them?

Mike, "Look, I was trying to lead Chris away but Unit comes up and basically tells him everything. I tried to stop him but he was on a mission for some reason."

Pauly looks like he could kill someone and Vinny just looks on quietly. Sammi just looks guilty.

Mike, "Aye, Pauly, you know I'm not like that anymore my man. If I found out first, I would have come to you with it first."

Pauly debates but something is telling him that Mike is telling the truth. He nods his head.

"It's not all good, but it's cool…you know what I mean."

Mike nods. Everyone has their own thoughts about the situation but at least they know it's still Mike and not The Situation before them again.

This is a big ball of yarn that has the potential of getting bigger if it is not handled. Pauly knows he has to talk to Deena now before she self-destructs.

-Later on in the Day-

Before the roommates head out, Pauly wants to talk to Deena. He knows that he won't be able to make her feel better but he at least wants to talk about where they stand.

Pauly finds Deena in her room. The girls are at Nicole's house, more than likely discussing the events of the morning.

He walks in and knocks on the door frame.

"Can I come in?"

Deena doesn't respond. She just lifts her head and looks at him. Pauly then walks over to her bed and sits down.

He begins, "I can't let the whole day go by without talking about earlier this morning."

Deena continues to look at him so Pauly continues.

"It may not seem like it, even though we did hash things out but I really was cool with you and Chris' relationship. I neva would have broken you two up for real-for real."

Deena slightly nods.

Pauly, "I'm sorry that things went down the way they did but I want you to know that I did try for you. In the same breath, I was put on the spot. I would have liked to have gone to Chris first as a man and let him know what was up, unfortunately I didn't get the chance to. I don't want to go into anything further but my main focus right now is talking to you."

Deena waits.

Pauly, "First off…I neva told Chris that us sleeping together was a mistake like you wanted me to, I couldn't."

Deena raises her head now.

Pauly, "It may not have been the right thing to do at the time but I don't regret it. Yeah, we were also drunk but my feelings for you are real Deena. I do love you."

Deena replies raspy, "…and I love you too Pauly but I love Chris too."

Pauly, "…then you can't say what we did was a mistake just to keep him. Just say you messed up. Admit your wrong, I think that's what Chris is looking for."

Deena, "I did tell him I messed up and that I would never hurt him again."

Pauly just looks at her.

"Are you really being true to yourself?"

Deena, "Why does everyone keep saying that?"

Pauly, "Well I've always said it because I've always said that I would neva take anything back as far as we're concerned…but I've neva heard you say it."

Deena, "…because I don't feel that way about you anymore Pauly! I had to find love outside of what I thought we had because I knew we would never be together, that's the deal we've always had! Why are you trying to act any different?"

Pauly, "So you got with Chris just to get over never being able to be with me? If that's the case then you shouldn't have."

Deena, "Why is that? By the way, I didn't get with Chris for that reason. I really love him and was with him because I wanted to be with him."

Pauly, "If you were being open and honest about seeing him from the beginning you could have saved yourself the trouble now because you would have known that I was willing to start a relationship with you."

Deena is floored. She responds.

"…and when were you going to tell me this?"

Pauly, "I planned on talking to you that night at Rivoli's but then Chris showed up and you announced that he was your new guy."

Deena cannot believe this in fact, it makes her furious.

"Out of how many opportunities Pauly…after how many arguments about this right here, why would you decide to say, no…do you get to say this shit now."

Deena turns it into more of a statement. She waits for his response.

"…because it's come full circle. I now know how you feel when I didn't want a relationship between us."

That does it…

Deena stands up now, "No you don't…you don't and like I said, you don't get to say that. It's not the same situation."

She continues.

"See, I fully commit to a relationship Pauly."

Pauly could fall out laughing at that statement.

"Listen, I don't want to rub it in your face but…was this morning a dream or what? It didn't happen?"

Deena, "It happened because you keep fucking with me Pauly! You mind fuck every girl and I fully understand it now! Unlike you, I actually care about the people I affect!"

Pauly, "What the hell are you talkin about?"

Deena, "That Rocio girl in Miami."

Pauly looks at her but then rolls his eyes.

Pauly, "Oh my goodness…"

Deena talks over him, "YOU were dating Rocio but at the same time, you were still screwing DTF's. How would I know I wouldn't end up the same way, if I would have ditched Chris for you?"

Pauly, "Deena you're different than Rocio, me and her only began to date. You're the Mother of my Kid. There is a high level of respect for Family."

Deena cries, "We're not a family Pauly…! We don't live together outside of here, you are always on the road, we had to set up visitation rights because we can't get along together…it just will never be!"

Pauly looks at her speechless as Deena continues.

"I want it- you don't, you want it- I don't. I can't have a life of my own if we are constantly in this tug-of-war battle!"

Deena starts to tear up now.

"…but that's okay, no one cares about Deena because Pauly always comes out on top, doing whoever he wants. Right?!"

Pauly cannot get a word in before Deena finishes.

"I accepted that before but I don't want that lifestyle anymore! I want something special like I was trying to build with Chris but you just cannot let me be happy!"

Deena continues now crying.

"…but you know what, I'm not mad because there's another truth you were right about that you won't bring up now, that you still won't admit to…You never should have slept with me to begin with!"

Pauly stands up now and tries to say something but Deena shouts at him to leave her alone.

Before they know it, Sammi is to the rescue again. She pulls on Deena and gets her out of the room and tells Pauly to just leave. Not in a mean way, but Pauly understands it is meant to get Deena cooled down.

A/N: LONG week...LONG day today...going back out of town tomorrow...*sighs* but I must post before the week is up. Wow. Here we go again, hence the chap name, smh. This has to be the end right? Find out on the other side. Make it a good one!